Effect of chemical and mechanical weed management on yield of French bean-sorghum cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during 2003–04 and 2004–05 to develop an effective weed management practice to study the effect of weed management practice in French bean cropping system under subtropical agro-ecosystems of western Uttar Pradesh. Pre-planting and pre-emergence application of fluchloralin 1.0 kg/ha and pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha reduced the population of Anagallis arvensis, Melilotus alba, Melilotus indica and Phalaris minor significantly than weedy check and other herbicide treatments and resulted significant increase in growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height, no. of branches, dry matter accumulation, no. of pods/plant and seeds/pod, seed and straw yield of french bean. Maximum yield was recorded in fluchloralin 1.00 kg/ha and pendimethalin 1.00 kg/ha treatments with a corresponding value of 1.11 and 1.11 t/haof French bean and 37.1 and 36.2 t/ha of fodder sorghum during both the years of experimentation. Application of fluchloralin 1.0 kg/ha and pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha increased the net return of French bean significantly over weedy check, besides at B: C. ratio of 1.18 and 1.12 during two cropping seasons.